Page 16 of Veil of Shadows

I stared into his eyes as my wolf’s black stare appeared on my face, and I watched my lieutenant’s face pale. “You have your orders. I will not repeat myself. Now, go.”

He nodded his head before slipping around us. “Yes, commander general.”

The vampire chuckled from beneath Rhonda and Mac. “You just don’t have the stomach to kill me.”

Gallagher paused. “Why I oughta?—”

I slammed my hand against his chest, knocking the wind out of him. He was right, that vampire probably broke all of his fucking ribs. I stood in between Gallagher and the vampire. I crouched down as he doubled over, trying to catch his breath.

“Don’t make me get Voss to pick you up and throw you back to the compound,” I whispered as a dangerous warning fell from my lips. “Because if I have to tap into our Alpha’s cinematic strength just to get you to listen, I will.”

Gallagher swallowed hard as he slowly rose up. “I’m going, I’m going.”

I tapped my temple. “Check in once you’re back and with Merida.”

He waved his hand at me. “Just keep me updated on what kind of rug you turn that skin-sack into.”

“I hope it’s a Persian rug,” the vampire said nonchalantly, “those are always such nice rugs.”

“Can it,” Rhonda snarled.

I loomed over Gallagher. “Get moving. Now.”

I watched him disappear into the darkness of the woods then I reached out to Merida in groupthink.

Gallagher’s headed your way. He let a vampire get its arms around him. Let me know when he finds you.

She immediately responded.Heading to the bath house now. I’ll let you know when he gets back.

Thanks.

I turned back to the vampire that Rhonda had apparently ripped up from the ground. Instead of that monster being on its back, Rhonda had the damned thing pinned to a tree. At some point in time, Lieutenant Mac shifted back into his human form, and the two of them struggled to keep the vampire from fighting against them.

“You think you can take me in your human forms?” the vampire asked with a chuckle. “Pathetic.”

I grinned as I reached into my back pocket, pulling out a small baggie. I loosened up the ties and pried open the pouch as a dastardly smile grew across my face. I reached my hand into the bag. The heavy smell of the garlic-doused handcuffs tickled my nostrils as my hand journeyed onward, trying to find what I was looking for.

I felt the sharp, waxy leaves of the juniper, pulling a handful of it out.

“You wouldn’t dare,” the vampire hissed as its eyes widened.

“Rhonda,” I said as I walked up to the vampire, cloaking it in my shadow, “be a doll and pry that fucker’s mouth open for me.”

She giggled as she slammed her fist against the vampire’s jaw, unhinging it as it cried out in pain. The resounding crack made Mac bark with laughter. As the vampire drew in a deep breath to shriek out, I stuffed that juniper so far into its fucking mouth that I heard the damned thing choking on it.

I clasped my hands behind my back and waited with a smile on my face as the vampire struggled. I watched the strength bleed out of its cold, dead body, doing my best to ignore the heady stench that filled the spaces between us. I don’t knowhow in the fuck they could stand the way they smelled. It was disgusting. The smell alone was enough justification to wipe them out.

But when the vampire dropped to the forest floor, completely paralyzed, Merida’s voice exploded in my mind.

Got Gallagher. He’s pretty bad off. I want to see the rest of your troops that came into contact with this vampire before bedtime tonight.

I nodded as I dipped down, scooping up the paralyzed vampire.Send them to the bath house, I assume.

Yep. Bexley just wrapped up her bath, so we’re good here.

I tossed the vampire over my shoulder.How is she?

About as good as you can expect.

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